Daughter of Fate & Destiny: The Legends of Arria, #1

By Courtney Bowen

A prequel to the Legends of Arria series

Kala is the oldest daughter of Lord Kotak, and lives on the country estate with her siblings Niobe and Peri. Yet they hardly ever see their father, and the children never leave the manor.

She doesn't know everything her father does. She doesn't know why the servant Cannon has a frozen face and hasn't aged in twenty years, looking younger than his old friend and boss Kotak.

Finally, they get the chance to accompany their father to a coronation of the new king. But circumstances remain strained between them.

Kotak and Cannon are secretly part of a cadre of Followers of Doomba. They plot to someday take control, with Kotak next in line to the throne.

Years ago, Cannon and Kotak learned from an oracle that a son born of Kotak's daughters would bring death and destruction to his enterprise.

The oracle hinted that such a grandson would be the tiger of light destined to destroy Doomba, their evil dark lord. Kotak has done everything he could to break the oracle's prophecy.

But what will Kala do?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Courtney Bowen
• Release date: Oct 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223613893

Courtney Bowen

Courtney Bowen fell in love with fantasy fiction at a young age and started writing it as a preteen. She wrote her first version of the Arria series in junior high and high school, and worked on a couple more versions. She’s also written several novels and short stories in Arria’s multiverse. She writes in other genres like romance, adventure, sci-fi and poetry. She first wrote Tarn & Beck: The Cursed Coin under the pseudonym Roger Nickleby. She continues to write the Tarn & Beck series, featuring other characters. So far, she has been a quarter-finalist in the 2019 Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition, the 2020 Screencraft Animation Screenplay Competition, and the Winter 2021 Los Angeles International Screenplay awards.

Book preview

Dedicated to

The harsh reality and the hope

We might yet find in the midst of

The darkness that surrounds us.

Chapter One:

Cannon and Kotak

In the quiet, still morning, nothing moved on the mountainside as a Red Dragon soared overhead, blocking the sun as it headed up towards the peak beyond. Cannon couldn’t believe his eyes, staring after it from where he hid amongst the rocks, along with a dozen others scarcely daring to breathe.

How’d it survive all these years in secrecy, without being discovered and hunted to extinction before? How’d Wilama hear about this creature?

Cannon didn’t know, but he didn’t care at the moment when they were about to face this beast. He could’ve sworn and cursed then, danced around if he felt brave enough to celebrate, but he was mindful enough not to draw attention to them when they were here on an important mission.

He’d heard stories about the beast, how huge and breathtaking they were, able to breathe fire and fly, but he never believed he’d actually see one. This one lived up to the tale at first glance, though he didn’t want to find out now if it could breathe fire. That part might come up later, if they were here for it.

The dragons were all supposed to be dead, or so he thought, lost centuries ago when Doomba tried to take over this land and people fought back against him. They’d been killed in the crossfire and chaos, wiped out over a millennium, along with other great creatures like unicorns and centaurs.

However, that wasn’t entirely true, was it? Cannon had spotted what appeared to be a centaur, hiding in the foliage of the forest outside of Coe Wilama when he and Lord Kotak were invited to the enchantress’s fortress.

But that had been a trick of his mind, or so he assumed when the centaur vanished just as he tried to get a good look at it. Perhaps he’d been wrong and it really was there.

Wilama was supposed to be hiding some kind of big secret out in her fortress in the Darkwoods, according to rumors, but he’d never expected anything like this. If it was the continued existence of a handful of these great creatures, then it was the find of a lifetime, and Wilama must be jealously guarding them.

Cannon looked over at Kotak, his boss and friend, sitting on the other side of the gathering, patiently waiting for the dragon to pass by without even sweating. He’d been expecting this, hadn’t he?

Kotak had known they were going after a dragon, that there’d be one here, and he hadn’t even bothered telling Cannon about it. That was typical of him, not caring enough to warn Cannon about a big surprise like this.

He’d just let it spring upon Cannon like this, never minding that the shock could’ve caused Cannon to give them all away to the dragon. However, Kotak trusted Cannon enough to bring him along on this amazing expedition, probably figuring he’d be able to handle it.

Kotak hadn’t invited his own brothers Pavga or Ikla along either. Cannon didn’t know whether to be flattered or annoyed with Kotak, a pretty typical response for him.

They’d known each other for years now, ever since they were children and Cannon was assigned to assist and serve Kotak on a daily basis. Admittedly they hadn’t gotten along well together at first, with Kotak literally lording it over Cannon, who resented him.

But eventually Kotak and Cannon saw each other more as partners and friends than boss and servant, though that dynamic still remained between them, and probably would never change. Cannon accepted it for the most part and at least Kotak wasn’t as bad as he used to be, though there were times Cannon wanted to quit working for him.

However, Kotak would apologize, try to make amends, and satisfy Cannon enough that he stuck it out, especially when there was plenty of privilege and friendship he got out of the deal, too. So this time around, Cannon settled for being half-annoyed, lightly punching Kotak in the arm after the dragon had passed by.

Ow, what was that for? Kotak asked.

You didn’t tell me about the dragon! Cannon hissed.

Oh, right, sorry. Do you want to stay down here?

No, I’m still coming along.

What’re we waiting for then? Kotak asked.

He and Cannon followed the Lioness warriors, sneaking along up the slope. The two men stood out a little from the group, but they were all focused on the task ahead.

Wilama recruited and trained women to be her guards at her fortress and to patrol the forest beyond. Cannon wasn’t used to seeing women as soldiers, but it was her fortress and the Lionesses were formidable from what he’d seen, so he didn’t say anything about it.

Perhaps it was typical practice elsewhere. Cannon half wondered why women weren’t included in his country’s army, if they could be good soldiers, when they ducked behind another pile of rocks.

Cannon lifted his head, staring up at a cave mouth a little farther up ahead, and realized the dragon must live there. He crouched down again, grimacing as Wilama and Kotak observed the dragon’s hold, discussing different strategies and attack plans.

Cannon tried to pay attention to them, knowing this was important, but he couldn’t help looking over his shoulder. He worried the monster might be breathing down their necks soon, scorching them.

What were they doing here, Kotak and him? Why’d Wilama invite them to join this hunt, when Cannon thought she and the Lionesses might be able to do it well without them?

Did she believe they’d some special, secret skill or capability that could help, or were they just bait? Cannon hoped it wasn’t the latter, but he couldn’t see anything else they might offer Wilama and the Lionesses when she was pretty well set-up on her own with an army at her command.

They had the most knowledge about dealing with magical creatures like this one while Kotak and Cannon were just going along with them.

Cannon was still trying to figure that out when Kotak nudged him. Hey, Cannon, watch this.

What’s going on? Cannon asked, lifting his head again.

Wilama had stood up, coming out of cover from behind the rocks, and was approaching the cave as she was singing a lullaby of some kind. Cannon couldn’t hear the words very well from a distance and they weren’t directed at him, but he could feel himself being lulled to sleep.

Noticing what was going on with Cannon, Kotak nudged him again, waking him up and drawing his attention as he mimed blocking his ears. So Cannon covered up his ears and felt wakeful and better able to focus.

He realized it must be some sort of spell Wilama was weaving over the dragon. She was supposed to be an enchantress, after all, one of the most powerful magic wielders in the land.

Now he turned back and saw the dragon coming out of the cave, and though the animal was groggy and wobbling. It growled as it spotted Wilama, prepared to pounce upon and eat her. Cannon watched in awe and horror, wondering if he was about to witness Wilama’s death.

Suddenly from out of nowhere, a whooshing sound above Cannon’s head alerted him to something flying overhead. He looked up and gaped, unable to believe his eyes.

Flying horses, real flying horses, with some of those Lionesses riding on them in full battle gear. This was epic!

Cannon whooped for joy and even Kotak chuckled. They watched as the warriors circled their animals around, wings splaying out for balance as they surrounded the dragon in a tight formation.

The dragon roared and twisted about, staring at all of them as it threatened to breathe out fire and roast them. But Wilama continued chanting and bemusing the dragon, thwarting its intentions.

The Lionesses launched a large net at the dragon, wrapping and twisting around it as Wilama attempted to calm and soothe the beast down without harming it. Once the animal was trapped and enmeshed, more flying horses arrived and landed in front of the Lionesses, Kotak, and Cannon on the ground.

Cannon gasped when a flying horse appeared before him and he nervously approached the animal. The flying horse simply waited as he gathered up the nerve to mount the beast.

Once he was settled, then the flying horse launched into the air, alongside Kotak and the other Lionesses. Cannon laughed and cheered, thrilled to be flying like this.

However, there was a purpose to his participation in this scheme, manual though it was. The Lionesses started securing the binds to the dragon’s net to the flying horses, and Cannon and Kotak did the same to theirs.

Once they were ready, Wilama performed a spell that lightened the dragon’s weight and lifted it up into the air. But they still had to haul the dragon back towards Coe Wilama, soaring high up to use fog and cloud cover to hide their presence.

When they were above the Darkwoods and the fortress, they lowered the dragon down. They deposited it in a glade in front of a cave by a lake.

Wilama reinforced her barrier spells to stop the dragon from escaping or destroying its new enclosure. After they untied the dragon, still dazed from its capture, they celebrated a successful mission inside Wilama’s fortress.

ℜℜℜ

Cannon wandered around, marveling over the castle and everything that had just happened while Kotak and the Lionesses chatted over drinks, recounting various escapades and battles in their past. Cannon couldn’t get over the day’s events, wondering what else might be waiting for him out there to explore.

As Cannon sipped his beer and examined some paintings hanging in a corridor, he heard a voice calling out to him. He turned around and saw Wilama standing a short distance away from him, studying him like he might be a piece of artwork or a slab of meat.

You’re not my usual sort, but perhaps you’ll do just as well. Wilama remarked, stalking towards him.

Cannon stood there, not knowing what to do. Though he wanted to run away like an elk with a predator coming after him, he was also seduced by the gaze in Wilama’s eyes.

If he had to compare it to anything else in that moment, it was like two red roses blooming in the middle of the night. Or maybe it was the crystal-clear water of an iceberg melting in a thawing snowbank. He wasn’t entirely certain, as he was enraptured at that point.

But then Kotak shouted, Wilama! What’re you doing to my servant?

Cannon blinked and shook his head as Wilama turned, staring at Kotak. I’m sorry, but I thought he looked good then. Perhaps you might give us a few moments’ privacy at least? Wilama asked.

Yeah, come on, just a few minutes? Cannon asked without even realizing he was speaking.

No, you’re just using him, and I won’t have it. Why’d you invite us here in the first place? To seduce him or to talk some business? Kotak asked Wilama, not paying attention to Cannon.

Wilama sighed. I wanted to meet you, Kotak. I’d heard some interesting things about you, a young man going far in the realm. The eldest son of the Duke of Coe Kiki, set to inherit his father’s role and a prominent Follower of Doomba, all at the tender age of twenty-five? That fascinates me. You’ve got a big role to fill and, I suspect, an extraordinary future ahead for you.

I don’t care what you think of me. Just leave me and Cannon alone. Come on. Kotak grabbed Cannon’s hand and pulled him away from her.

Snapped out of his reverie, Cannon followed Kotak, dashing with him down the corridor as Wilama started shouting for Lionesses to snatch them. Cannon didn’t quite know what was going on, still lost in his mesmerization, except that they had to get out of here quickly, and he always went along with whatever Kotak did.

They avoided and evaded capture, dodging the female warriors, as they reached their horses outside. They rode away, out through the gate before it closed, and then they were racing through the Darkwoods.

Cannon breathlessly tried to keep up with Kotak, who was always one step ahead of him. But Kotak kept looking back at him, too, trying to keep track of Cannon.

He wouldn’t lose his friend. The trees seemed to be reaching out, trying to snatch back Cannon and Kotak, and other Lionesses were hidden, scattered about the forest.

But Cannon and Kotak eluded the enchanted limbs, cutting them down. They remembered enough about the hideouts they’d encountered along the way to eschew them until they were finally out of the Darkwoods, away from Wilama’s domain.

Cannon and Kotak whooped and hollered, reveling in their escape. They crossed the plains of Tau Valley, heading for home, the countryside manor of Lord Ovla, Kotak’s father.

That was almost too easy. Kotak shook his head. I wonder if Wilama let us get away?

I don’t know. It felt pretty hard to me. That was some adventure, though. Cannon sighed, settling down a moment. Are we going to tell others about that dragon?

I’m not sure. It feels like something we should hold onto, just in case, a secret to keep and maybe dangle over Wilama someday. Kotak grinned. I can’t wait to see the look on Pavga’s face, though, if I tell him what we just did.

Hey, look, are those standing stones? Cannon asked, sitting up as he pointed at the monuments ahead.

Careful there. Kotak restrained him. These relics are supposed to surround ancient sacred spaces, allegedly full of power and magic. We just got out of one potentially dangerous situation. Let’s not get into another one so fast.

Aw, but that was a lot of fun and we got away, didn’t we? So why don’t we at least try and see what’s going on over here? Maybe there’s nothing here. Maybe it’s just a bunch of old rocks. But at least we face our fears and prove that we’re not cursed or anything like that.

Okay, fine. But we get out of here as soon as anything pops up and threatens us. Kotak said as they rode towards the standing stones.

ℜℜℜ

Nothing popped up, but Cannon did lean against a stone slab, which gave way and revealed a staircase heading down into an underground chamber. Not sure what was going on, but intrigued, they decided to explore it.

They trooped down into an odd place with tracks going off in opposite directions down tunnels, below the platform they were standing on.

Before they could go much farther in checking out this place, a weird contraption of a vessel sailed into the chamber, alarming them.

They threatened the doors of the vessel until they popped open. Out stepped a woman dressed like a man in a trimmed outfit with a bowl-shaped hat and a cane hooked onto her wrist.

Ah, Cannon and Kotak, I was wondering when you two would arrive down here. She said, checking a watch. You should be first, Cannon, as you found this place.

What’s going on here? Who’re you? Kotak asked, peering at her.

I’m the Oracle of Tau, a prophetess of this region, and you’re late. I suspect capturing the dragon Sheba must’ve delayed you.

How’d you know about that? And what’s Sheba? Cannon asked.

That’s the dragon’s name, or it’ll be her name when you encounter her again, many years from now. The Oracle faced Cannon. "So young and fresh-faced you are, not yet having encountered your lord and master, who’d freeze your face in time.

"Double-face you’ll become, however, the dogged, loyal servant who turns into an assassin and charlatan. You’ll hide your face under a new name, but never will you hide your guise, as you betray and are betrayed. You were born to deceive and serve those who deceive, but you’ll serve your king instead, lying to those who trust you.

"You’re the deceiver and deceived for the face you bear will be recognized. Will you remove the mask and break the charade, or will you turn out to be as hollow and heartless inside? I see you leading an army against those you once bowed to as you beg forgiveness and seek your redemption from those you betrayed.

But what will you find as those who forgive you will also deceive and destroy you. Yet the one you thought dead, the one you hurt the most with your actions and who you loved the most as your own, who loved you even when you destroyed them, will one day return and seek you out. Will you beg forgiveness from them, or will they betray you? That I cannot see in full yet.

Cannon gaped at the Oracle, not sure what she was talking about as Kotak strode forward. What kind of nonsense is this? Cannon’s the most loyal person I know. He wouldn’t hurt or betray anybody!

Hardened heart, a son born of your daughter will bring death and ruin to your enterprise, and all that you hold dear will be scattered across the earth. The Oracle glared at Kotak.

What? I’m not even engaged to anybody yet, and you’re talking about a grandson of mine? Kotak said. What kind of Oracle are you?

You might become duke, but someday you’ll be ruler of Arria if you don’t stray from the path you were destined to take.

Keep talking. I might become king? Kotak asked her.

"You might seek solace and help from others, but you’ll find little comfort. For you must contend with betrayal and betray those you hold dear. You’ll seek to destroy those who would be your friend and guard against all who would get close to you.

"You’ll be cold, chilled to the bone as you age, losing all you hold dear. You can’t be hard or tough enough, hurting those you love, and then you’ll share a throne. But will that be enough to hold and satisfy you?

Shall you betray and hurt your cause, or will you hold fast to your principle, no matter what? Time’s running out for you. A lion or a tiger awaits you, slumbering in your family. Wintha the Wanderer saw it years ago and wrote it down, but will you heed her warning and betray the ones you love? I wonder if you know what killing will cost you.

Kotak frowned. You don’t know anything about me. Come on, Cannon, let’s go.

They always say that. The Oracle sighed as she boarded the train and Kotak and Cannon left her, heading back up to the surface.

I wonder if anything she said was true. Cannon shuddered. I’ll serve the king, but betray those who deceive? What does that mean?

"I’m sure it doesn’t mean